Blade Show 2011

The Blade Show 2011. Truly a gathering of the faithful. We have seen some great artistry here and we want to keep our loyal readers informed. All of the manufacturers show up with their line of products and the public gets to look everything over and often buy whatever they want directly. The prices, of course, are not what they would be at the KnifeCenter. Custom knife makers display their wares and you see the finest custom knives you will ever see.
Every Blade Show includes an awards banquet where the industry honors the best products coming along as well as people who contribute to the industry. This year they inducted Carl Elsenor III into the hall of fame. He is the CEO of Victorinox Swiss Army Knives and is 90 years old. Accepting the award for him was his son, Charles Elsenor and the KnifeCenter was fortunate to have been invited to sit at their table with them.
The banquet proceeded as follows:
Jim Wells sang God bless America to get the banquet ceremony off to the proper start. The Gunny (from the SOG ads and numerous Movie roles) led off with some kind words for the custom knife makers and their art.
At the awards banquet the winners are
Blade mag publishers award: Jan Coffee
American made knife: Spyderco for the Native 5 with fluted handle
Best imported knife: Spyderco Vallotin
Best investor collector : William Henry
overall knife of the year: ZT Knives for model 777
Collaboration of the year: zero tolerance
Most innovative international design: Fox Knives
Inducted in the knife makers hall of fame is the CEO of Swiss army knives
Most innovative American design.: Microtechnology for the Select fire
Kitchen knife of the year: Shun Knives
Manufacture quality: Chris Reeve Knives
Best Buy of the Year: Columbia River Ken Onion Shenanigan
Best accessory of the year: Blade Tec new molle clip